BET recently debuted a new series entitled “Being Mary Jane” that’s been causing a stir online and off.

The series, originally titled ‘Single Black Female,’ centers around successful talk show host Mary Jane Paul (played by Gabrielle Union) and her professional and private family life, while she searches for “Mr. Right.”

“Mary Jane Paul has it all: she’s a successful TV news anchor, entirely self-sufficient – an all-around powerhouse who remains devoted to a family that doesn’t share her motivation.

As Mary Jane juggles her life, her work and her commitment to her family, we find out how far she’s willing to go to find the puzzle pieces that she, and society, insist are missing from her life as a single Black female.”

What’s missing from Mary Jane, the ultimate achiever’s, life is that she wants a man who will love her and only her and if she can’t find that… maybe a baby will do.

So she decides to “steal” sperm after a sexual encounter to make her dreams a reality…

BET managed to top cable ratings this week in the key adults demographic with the airing of their new scripted series.

According to The HollywoodReporter, the 90-minute pilot episode of ‘Being Mary Jane’ debuted at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday to an impressive 2.0 rating with adults ages 18-49 and 4 million viewers.

While the series won’t debut until 2014, the feature got a strong sampling thanks in no small part to the return of The Game. BET’s flagship scripted series kicked off its sixth season with a 1.7 18-49 rating and 3.6 million viewers at 10 p.m.

A midnight encore of the episode even managed to pull in an additional 2.7 million viewers and a 1.2 demo rating.

Both premieres received strong promotion on Sunday night. The BET Awards, topping all other cable awards shows for the second year running, pulled in 7.8 million viewers and a 3.4 rating among adults 18-49.

[Sidebar: I’m not a Gabrielle Union fan so I didn’t expect to like ‘Being Mary Jane’ but surprisingly… it was a lot better than I thought it would be… ]

Watching it right now, hahahahhahaha, was that a razor she had in her hand when she had to ” primp” herself for dude at the front door?I love it!!!!

I.c. Watkins via Facebook

Loved it!

Sonya Jones via Facebook

Didn’t watch it by choice.

Raquel Xu via Facebook

And to think ppl were saying she can’t do serious roles cause of her baby face

versatile

Crazy isn’t it? That’s what I thought. That she was just a pretty face with great skin and a smile. She woke MY damn azz up.

Sasha Miller-torez

@Atlien thanks for posting this link. I missed the show on BET. This show is great!! It addresses so many issues pertaining to successful black women. the first of which being the inability to find a mate…so we tend to settle. Also, the other issue is ones family ALWAYS BEING in one’s purse…"can I hold $500.00?" I am an absolute fan…

Lynne D. Green via Facebook

I will be watching!!!! I LOVE her

versatile

Gabrielle Union blew it out the effing park with this show. So glad to see her FINALLY use her acting skills in vehicle worthy of her talent. Who knew she had this powerful element in acting abilities?? Hopefully no more clueless, dance off, one liner scripts for her. She’s absolutely amazing. BET definitely stepping it up.

She wants to compete with Scandal so bad,but Kerry doesn’t take other people’s men for a living nor does she play the mean girl in real-life.

Fl to Va chick

I felt the same as Michelle..not a big Gabby fan but, I enjoyed the show and she did a good job.The writers are truly the best!!

oh>>Omari Hardwick if you’re reading this you slayed man!

PeachCandy

You mean I now have a reason to turn to BET.

GoldenLady

I couldn’t connect with it….

Marshell

To All (No one in particular)

I have to disagree with this show being great. I think this show is an example of why there are so many single black women in this world. Some black women have a false hope that they deserve a baller or an elite man and have no skill, discipline, or self-respect to keep a baller. This woman is sleeping around, she makes it ok for men to show up to her home unannounced and sleep with her AND people are like oh but she has a great career. Honey!!her soul is dead and she is miserable. (i.e. having to hang out with her homosexual neighbor) because the man that she wants —- are out with the women who they want to be with. Mary Jane allowed herself to be subjected to midnight dinner invites – nothing public. This woman is craving real love Her career can’t lover her, grow with her, keep her legacy alive (produce children). Mary Jane is drowning. And her own black sisters think this is great or a cute show and are looking forward t to sitting back to watch this trash.

I know many of you may say “it’s just a show”, but I tell you crap like this is so relatable, because many of you woman posting – live this same life. A master’s degree or career success should not give Mary Jane a pass to be ratchet. Many don’t look down at Mary Jane, because she doesn’t have kids running around or work at the local hair store, but she is doing the same thing as Shay (Love & Hip Hop) or other girls that we turn our noses up at. But it’s ok because she is successful. Huh?

Another thing which is such an insult is what is a “successful black woman”?? Do you ever hear other races say I am a successful Asian, White, or Filipino woman? No you don’t. Black woman always allow themselves to be played and point the finger at someone else. This is sad.
And believe it or not Gabby is playing out her life or shall I say cursing her life by taking this role. Currently, She is been dealing with a man who has never publicly acknowledged his admiration for her. A man who did not even have her on the stage when he accepted his BET award. Women wake up this mess is not cute. We are enjoying shows that make black woman look slutty and tear our black men down. There was not 1 positive image of a black man on the show.

Lover #1 – married playing games
Lover #2 – not looking for a serious relationship. (Ex lover bouncing in and out of her life)
Father – not taking control of the family/household
Older brother – living at home with his parents, raising his kids at his parents’ house
Younger brother – no car, Gabby (good ole black woman has to save the day) – watch these messages people. You are being insulted right in front of you own faces and you think it’s cute.
Neighbor – homosexual (can’t procreate and continue black life)
No disrespect to anyone, but if you are offended than you are a part of this problem. My intentions were to make you aware “In love” – Have a great day/evening
Signed a Black Woman wanting to see her people do better.

Marshell

I recognized a few grammar/type errors in my post above. I hope you can excuse the errors and receive the message.
Thank you.

Nicole

My sentiments exactly! It’s great that black people are working. It is sad that we have to depict the lowest levels to work and most sad that women can enjoy and relate to this character. Only a few even notice that scandal andt this show use professional success, nice clothes and a fancy home decor to legitimize being a mistress.

After Different World, enrollment at hbcu’s peaked, after The Cosby Show, people began demanding a Clair and a Cliff as a mate. After these two shows, I suspect being a mistress will increase.

lilkunta

__After Different World, enrollment at hbcu’s peaked, after The Cosby Show, people began demanding a Clair and a Cliff as a mate. After these two shows, I suspect being a mistress will increase.__
@nicole ; WRONG. Being a mistress will NEVER BE IN STYLE. for all the love kerry gets she equally gets HATE. Cheater keys still hasnt recovered from her dating and fvkcing and becoming pregnant to married swizz beatz. look at the sales of her last 2 cd: element of freedom barely sold 1.5mill andcurrent cd girl on fire has barely sold 1mill. Cheater keys has alienated her fanbase: adult married woman, young adult woman hoping to be married; teens who admired her.

Lia H

My sentiments exactly. I did not see one positive black male role on here.
Im not a fan of Ms Union, but I will watch to see in what direction the show goes.

I agree with everything that you stated!

Reese

The direction will be to the gutter. Mary Jane will be a mistress baby momma and catch AIDS while she goes to rehab to find love with a crackhead and they live happily ever after and go to church.

humbleknight

Damn…you know I come here for shits and giggles, but I cant laugh at anything you just said. The media keeps putting it out there black women cant find mates. Maybe this show doesnt help.

VoiceofReason

You are right, it is an example. Too many black women are heading families, helping out extended families, ad nauseum. It has been that way since slavery. We also get to see how black man are emasculatd by their own mothers who refuse to let them grow up and be men (Mary Jane’s brother). The show is relatable on a lot of fronts and gives credence to the maxim that all the "good" men are in jail, married or gay. I think the only good one was the gay one that is in a committed relationship.

lilkunta

@mashell : i agree with the beginning and middle of your post.
the end is wrong. dwyane ALWAYS acknowledges gabby. he idnt bring her onstage at BET awards bc it WAS NOT HER MOMENT. his foundation was being honored so he rightly was up there w the ppl who RUN THE FOUNDATION: his dad, birthmother, and sister.

Angel

You couldn’t have said it better. I totally agree with EVERYTHING you’ve posted!

sdkennedy1

I am not a huge Gabrielle Union fan either – but really enjoyed the show. My only disappointment would be that they put this teaser out so early before the series debut….2014 is a long time to wait!!!

Nicole

My sentiments exactly! It’s great that black people are working. It is sad that we have to depict the lowest levels to work and most sad that women can enjoy and relate to this character. Only a few even notice that scandal andt this show use professional success, nice clothes and a fancy home decor to legitimize being a mistress.

After Different World, enrollment at hbcu’s peaked, after The Cosby Show, people began demanding a Clair and a Cliff as a mate. After these two shows, I suspect being a mistress will increase.

Reese

Didn’t watch. Not going to drink the Kool ade. Yall can stop pretending that it was awesome. You guys keep rooting for this tramp. I cant support her type casting, twitter thugging 40 year old behind. I am
still puzzled why she gets a pass for bad acting and hoeing. She is the hero of many black women. To that I say, find a new role model.

VoiceofReason

I don’t understand how she is hoeing … as in character or real life?

Reese cm

She is hoeing in life. Media hoe, home wrecking hoe, just a hoe. Hoe hoe hoe!

lilkunta

@reese cm : how is gabby a haomewrecking hoe? dwyane and siovaughn were broken up,, divorce papers files.
a homewrecking hoe is cheaters keys. she threw mashonda her baby shower then fcvked her husband. cheater keys was dating and fvcking and preg and engaged to a married man. she is the homewrecking hoe.

and while we are talking about dywane wade, i wish he’d spell his name correctly. 2nd he advocates being a devout christian and says his # is 3 for the holy trinity. yet he has premarital sex with gabby and is premaritally cohabitating w gabby.